Respirator



June 26, 1945. JOYCE 2,378,929

RESPIRATOR v Filed June 29, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR WILLIAM J. JOYCE. fl w A OV'RNEY June '26, 1945.

wfJl JOYCE RESPIRATOR I Filed June 29, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WILLIAM J JOYCE AT RNEY Patented June 26, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l 2,378,929 l nEsPIRA'roR William J Joyce, Sturbridge, Mass, assignor to Company, Southbridge, Mass, a voluntary association of Massachusetts Application June 29, 1942, Serial No. 448,924

' Claims. (01.128-146) American Optical This invention relates to improvements in respirators and has particular reference to novel means and method of making the same.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a collapsible respirator and method of making the samewhereby the various parts of l the respirator may be folded into compact relation with each other for ease of conveying and maybe quickly and easily extended for use.

Another object is to provide a respirator of the above character having filter means arranged to providea relatively large area of filtration in a relatively confined space when the parts arein extended relation with each other. and which will permit the filter member to be collapsedand folded in compact relation with the facepieee whennot in use.

Another object is to providenovel meansianol method of forming the the respirator. l

Another object isto provide a respirator of the above character with the face engaging portion shaped tofit about the noseand mouth of the face engaging portion of wearer in such a manner as to render the respiraprotection means.

Another object is to provide novel means and method of retaining the filter member of the restor adaptable for use with goggles-or other eye piratorin extended position.

Another object is to provide a collapsible respirator of the above. character wherebyall the intermediate parts of the respirator willlie within the limits of thecontour of the faceengaging portion f p Another object is to provide a respirator of the abovecharacter which, when thefilter unit is collapsed, the parts thereof will interfit with each other in foldedcompact relation. 7 Another object is to provide a respirator of the -ab0vecharacter with a relatively rigid frame portion shaped to fit about the nose and mouth and face engaging portion formedin integral relation.

with each other.

Another object is'to provide a unitary frame member to which all the separable parts of the respirator are attached.

Another object is to providea novel method of and described without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to theexact details of construction, arrangement of parts and methods shown and described as the preferred forms only have been given by wayof illustration.

Referring'tothe drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview of the device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken as on liner-4 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; i 1

Fig. 3 is a view showing the parts of the respirator folded in compact relation with each other; Fig. 4 isa rear perspective view of a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrat 1 inga modified form of attachment'of the filter member inextended position;

with. a relatively resilient face engaging portion and a collapsible filter-unit supported by. said frame member.

Another object is to provide a respirator of the above character with an exhalation valve so located as to permit the filter unit to be folded with the parts thereof incompact relation with each other.

the above character with a filter member and Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken as on line '!1of Fig. 6; l

Fig. 8 is a view generally similar to Fig. 7 of a further modification; and r Fig. 9 is a view generally similar to Fig. 5 of a further modificationof the invention.

The provision of a respirator for fitting about the nose and mouth of the weareris not new in l the art. It ha's been usual, in the past, to so fabricate said respirators as to necessitate their being retained in the shape to which they are initially fabricat'ed with the resultthat theyrequired containersof considerable size for conveyance and were alsodifiicult to store away or to convey on one; person when notin use. Shouldthe respirators of the prior art become crushed they were, inmost instances, no longer practical for use. The present invention, thereinous filtering material.

fore, is directed particularly to the provision of a respirator whose parts may be folded in compact relation with each other to guard against injury, which will require a minimum of space in storing and which may be readily carried on ones person with little difficulty.

It is a further object to provide a respirator of this character which, when the parts are extended and when in position of use, will afford a relatively large field of vision, will permit the use of goggles or other eye protection means and will provide adequate filtration with little resistance to respiration.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views the device comprises a relatively rigid frame like portion I shaped to fit about the nose and mouth of the wearer and to the general facial characteristics of the wearer in said vicinities. The main frame-like portion I0 may be formed of any suitable rigid or nearly rigid material such ,as Bakelite, artificial resins, wood, relatively hard rubber or other suitable means which will tend to retain the shape to which it is fabricated.

The frame-like portion II] has secured thereto a filter member II. The filter member ll.may be formed of felt or any other desirable foram- I The filter member II, as shown in Fig. 2, is secured to the frame-like portion In by a layer of suitable cement or other adhesive I2. The cement or adhesive may be of the latex type, DuPont cement, which is a transparent cement made out of acetate material, or any other suitable cement for attaching the filter member to the frame I0. In the construction, illustrated in Fig. 2, the filter member comprises a portion I3 formed with walls which converge from adjacent the edge thereof attached to the frame III to a fold I4 which turns outwardly at I5 with diverging walls to a fold I6. The filter member then turns inwardly with converging walls I! to a fold- I8 which turns outwardly to diverging walls I9 to a fold and thence turns inwardly with converging walls 2! which blend into a front wall 22 having an opening therein. The arrangement of the folds is such as to provide a bellows type filter member with the respective folds I6 and 20 being of a contour simulating the contour-of the filter member adjacent its point of attachment with the frame I0 and being of smaller diameter so that the folds It will lie within the limits of the fold adjacent the point of attachment I2 and the fold 20 will lie within the limits of the fold I6, as illustrated in Fig. 3, when the filter member is collapsed and the respective folds assume an intimate compact relation with each other and with the main portion Ill. The material of the filter member from adjacent its pointof attachment I2 with the frame I0 is looped about the frame III, as illustrated at 23, and has its free edge secured to the outer surface of the frame II] by a layer of cement or adhesive 24 simulating the layer I 2. The loop 23 is such as to provide a space 25 between the frame III and the said loop whereby the material of the loop is free to be distorted independently of the frame during use. The outer surface or face engaging surface of the loop portion 231s provided with a coating 26 of suitable material having non-porous resilient characteristics such as latex, rubber latex, plasticized vinyl resin, Vulcaloc, milled deodorized Neoprene emulsion, (latex), prepolymerized methyl methacrylate whose polymerization is controlled to obtain the resiliency and nonporous coating desired; ethyl cellulose plasticized with castor oil or other suitable known plasticizer; vinylidene chloride, known commercially as Saran; plasticized polyvinyl acetal; known synthetic rubbers or other means having similar characteristics for rendering said face engaging portion non-porous and resistant to water, perspiration, etc. The coating may beapplied thereto by painting, dipping, spraying, vulcanizing, or the coating material may be rendered liquid by suitable solvents and the said face engaging portion may thereafter be impregnated with said material.

If desired, the face engaging or loop portion 23 may be. formed separately of the main filter member II, in which instance, it would be joined to the frame I0 adjacent the joined edge I2 ofthe filter member. In this particular instance, the loop portion 23 may be formed of rubber or of any of the materials mentioned above or may be formed of anyone of said materials by milling said materials either with or without fibers or other suitable fillers, such as wood flour, zinc white, lithopone, cotton fibers, felt fibers, wool, asbestos and so forth which may thereafter be fabricated to the shape of the face engagingportion and be secured to the frame portion Ill in a manner similar to that illustrated in Fig. 2. Q In the opening in the front wall 22 there is provided a valve member 21. The-valve member 21 comprises a cup-like member 28 having a peripheral flange 29 and spaced openings, 30 therein. The cup-like member fits internally of theopening in the front wall 22 and is secured, therein by suitable pins, rivets or the like 3|, which extend through the flange 29 and through a suitable internal washer 32 to clamp the material of the wall 22 between said washer and flange. The cup-like member is provided with spaced pins 33 to which is attached a flap valve or the like 34. During exhalation theflap valve 34 is adapted to permit air to pass outwardly of the openings 30 and during inhalation the said flap valve is adapted to be drawn into intimate relation with the adjacent wall of the cup member so as to overlie and seal the openings 30 against the entrance of air. The flange member 29, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, has attached thereto, on the opposed sides of the cup-like member, suitable clips or the like 35 in which the cross bar portion 36 of a brace member 31, may be snapped and interlocked therewith to retain the filter member I I'in extended position, as illustrated in said figures. Thebrace member 31 has deflected end portions 38 pivotally at-. tached in suitable recesses in the opposed sides of the main frame portion I0; When the filter member is collapsed, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the brace bar 31 folds downwardly in compact relation with the parts. main frame member II] are provided with loops 39 through which the enlarged ends 40 of a headband of resilient material or the like 4| are threaded and thereby attached to the-main frame portion I0.

It is to be understood that the clips 35 have suitable latch pockets or the like 42 therein into attached to said frame member, theengaged The opposed sides of the surface of the main framemember' Ill maybe increased in widthto give more attachingarea. InfFig. 4 therexis illustrated a modification of the invention which embodies structural details generally similar to that of the respirator of Figs.

1, and 3 comprising a filter member 42 simulat ing the filtermember H, a face engaging edge.

portion 43* "simulating the face engaging portion 23 andl a brace member 44 simulating the brace niemberi'h The structuraldetails of the respirasirnulating the frame 10, has a portion 45 looped fqrward-"lyffronl the initial plane of the main fra emember to fit about the bridge of themes at a lower position on the nose thereby reducing the height of the faceengaging portion at said location. Inthe construction of Fig. 4 the for wardly loopedportion 45 isso shaped 'as to engage the nose substantially at the base of thef bohy structure of the bridge of the nose and ture fand thence turn downwardly at 4! to side portions shaped to engage the cheek bones atthejsides of thenose as results through the shape of the particular portions 45, 46; 41 and 4 :8. The face engaging portion thence continues downwardly with theside portions 49 to fit about the mouth and with the lower portion 50' to fit about 'the chin below the mouth. The main frarhe portion has a face engaging edgeportion secured thereto whichsimulates the member 2 3i" A suitable headband simulating the headband 41, is adapted to hold the; device on the face of thewearer. The facepiece is so dimensionedthat the lower edge 5i] is adapted to fitwithih the notch of the chin belowthe mi lip'and by so fitting in said notch of thechin automatically positions the forwardly looped lo tor of Fig; =1 are identical tothat of the respirator of Fi'g. 1- except that the main frame member,

thenceextend rearwardly at 46 tofollow the sides of the nose at the base of said bony strucportion adjacent the base of the bony structure of thebridge ofthe nose, particularly, in ihd'ividuals having normal facial dimensions.

The purpose of reducing the height of the face engagingportion at the location of the forwardly enencmgioop 45is to provide greater clearance forgoggles or the like which might be desirable to use in combination withsaid respirator.

, In Fig. 5 there is illustrated a. modification wherein instead of securing the portion I3 to the frame In adjacent the inner surface of said frame the portion 52, simulatingthe portion I3;

is; secured to theouter surraee or the frame 53.

It is to be understoodth-at the said frame 53 simulates the frame 10. locilpedinwardly, as illustrated at 5H, and has its The material is then the cup-like member 59'. which; simulates thecup 28 of the valve 2mg providedon its opposed sides with latch members Behaving inner" notchedsurfaces. The brace GI, which simulatesthe brace ii'lyis provided with" an intermediate bar portion e2 having outwardly turned portions 63 adapted to interlock. with the internal notches of the latch portions 60. This is accomplished by springing the members 62 inwardly betweenthe latchmem ber's fiflthrou'gh the inherent resiliencyof said portions. i

In Fig; 8 there is illustrated a further modification 1 in which instance suitable latch members ehisimulatingthe latchmembers are provided having notches tt in the outersurfaces thereof.

The brace member 66 is bent so as to provide converging portions 67 which will interlock with the notches ofthe members 64. Again thisisaccomplished through the inherent resiliency of the parts; The brace members Bi and 66, are secured to the main frame member in a manner generally similar tothat of the bracemember 31.

In Fig. 9 there is illustrated a further modificati'on wherein the free edge 68 of the face engaging portion is secured to the frame 69 asby a layer of cement or other suitable adhesive 10.

Inthis instance, the free edge 88 only issecured to said frame member 69; The filter material is looped as illustrated at T l to provide adistortable face engagingportion and thence turns outwardly to a fold 12 which, in turn, blends into convergingwallsfl'l3 simulating the walls [3. The

outer surface of the looped portion H is provided with a coating 14 simulating the coating 26 and maybe formed of any of the materials herein disclosed for producing the resiliency and mm porous characteristics desired.

It is to be. noted that the frame members l0 and 53, at the locationspf attachment of the filter member and free edge ofthe face engaging portions are provided with surfaces which converge in a forwardly direction. The angle of convergence is such asto provide theproper amount of loop" for the face engaging portion and yet affordmaximum surface area of attachment. It is quite obvious, as the surfaces approach parallelism, the extent of the loops 23 and 24 will simultaneously decrease, that is, the loops will inherently be of a shorter radius of curvature and thereby decrease the area of contact with.

the face. The extent of the loop portions 23 and respectively, is such as to afford a .comfortable cushioning seal effect with the face.

free edge 55' secured to the inner surface of the 3 frame 513. The said portions .52- and 55 are secured to the frame 53 by suitable layers 58 and 57, of" cement or other adhesive of the type set forth herein. The saidportion fid-is provided with a coating of resilient material 58- simulating: the coating 26. It is to be understood that thesaid portion 54 may be formed separately of the portion 52' in which instanceboth of said portionswould be secured to the portion 53 by the 1ayer56. The saidportions 54 andbl have abutting edges overlying the outer surface of the frame 53. In this instancathe saidgportion 54 maybe formed of rubber or other resilient mae terials or may be formed in a manner similar to the portionlh setforth above.

In Figs. 6 and '7, there is illustrated a modified form of latch member for retaining thefilter member in extended position. In this instance,

The angle of convergence ofthe walls I3 is controlled in part toclear the face of the wearer, particularly, the upper wall portion it, which must afford a clearance for the nose. It isto be noted that; the upper wall portion i3 is much longer'than the lower wall l3. The intent of this construction is to tilt the remainder of the filter portion in i a downwardly direction to afford a Wider field of vision when the device is in posi;

. that simple, efficient and economical means have been provided for accomplishing all of the objects and advantages of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a face engaging portion and a collapsible filter member connected with said face engaging portion, said collapsible filter member comprising filtering material having folded convolutions whereby said filter member may be folded in compact relation with the face engaging portion or may be extended, said filter member having an exhalation valve adjacent the forward end thereof, latch means carried by said valve member and brace means carried by the face engaging portion and having a portion attachable with said latch means for retaining the filter member in extended position.

2. A device of the character described comprising an accordion type filter member having a perforated wall in the forward end thereof and an opposed open end with a face engagingportion adjacent the edge of said end, said forward perforated wall having a valve member therein and said face engaging portion having a relatively rigid frame-like portion related therewith in such a manner as to retain the face engaging portion to a given contour shape and means carried by said face engaging portion for retaining the accordion type filter member in extended position and permitting said accordion type filter member to be folded in compact relation with the face engaging portion with the side walls of the folds in engaged relation with each other.

3-. A device of the character described comprising a face engaging portion shaped substantially to fit about the nose and mouth of an individual and, a cup-like filter member of relatively thin filtering material extending forwardly of said face engaging portion and terminating in an end wall, said filter member, when in extended position for clearance of the nose, having side walls converging from said face engaging portion forwardly toward the end wall with said side walls having a plurality of folded convolutions extending inwardly and outwardly relative to the direction of disposition of said side Walls whereby said filter member may be collapsed to position the end wall in close relation with the face engaging portion, with the side walls of the folds in compact engaged relation with each other and with the contour of the apices of the folds lying one within the other when in said compact engaged relation and, when extended, the apices of said folds being substantially tangent with lines converging forwardly of said face engaging portion and intersecting each other forwardly of said end wall.

4. A device of the character described comprising a face engaging portion embodying a resilient portion shaped substantially to fit about the nose and mouth of an individual and a cup-like filter member of relatively thin filtering material extending forwardly of saidface engaging portion and terminating in an end wall, said filter mem- 1 tion with the face engaging portion, with the side walls of the folds in compact engaged relation with each other and with the contour of the apices of the fold lying one within the other wheniin said compact engaged relation and, when extended, the apices of said folds being substantially tangent with lines converging forwardly of said face engaging portion and intersecting each other forwardly of said end walls, the width of the upper wall of the fold nearest the face engaging portion being greater than the width of the lower wall thereof to cause the forward portion of the'filter to tilt downwardly relative to the plane of the face engaging portion. i p

5. A device of the character described comprising a face engaging portion shaped substantially to fit about the nose and mouth of an individual and a cup-like filter member of relatively thin filtering material extending forwardly of said face engaging portion and terminating in an end wall, said filter member, when in extended position for clearance of the nose, having side walls converging from said face engaging portion forwardly toward the end wall with said side walls having a plurality of folded convolutions extending inwardly and outwardly relative to the direction of disposition of said side wallswhereby said filter member may be collapsed to position the end wall in close relation with the face engaging portion, with the side walls of the folds in compactengaged relation with each other and with the contour of the apices of the folds lying one within the other when in said compact engaged relation and, when extended, the apices'of said folds being substantially tangent with lines converging forwardly of said face engaging portion and intersecting each other forwardly of said end wall and means, when said filter member is extended, for retaining said filter member in said extended position and for permitting said filter memberto be collapsed.

6. A device of the character described comprising a face engaging portion embodying a resilient portion shaped substantially to fit about the nose and mouth of an individual and a cup-like filter member of relatively thin filtering material extending forwardly of said face engaging portion and terminating in an end wall, said filter memher, when in extended position for clearance of the nose, having side walls converging from said face engaging portion forwardly toward the end wall with said side walls having a plurality of folded convolutions extending inwardly and outwardly relative to the direction of disposition of said side walls whereby said filter member may be collapsed to position the end wall in close relation with the face engaging portion, with the side walls of the folds in compact engaged relation with each other and with the contour of the apices of the folds lying one within the other when in said compact engaged relation and, when extended, the apices of said'folds being substantially tangent with lines converging forwardly of said face engaging por-' tion and intersecting each other forwardly of said end walls, the width of the upper wall of the fold nearest the face engaging portion being greater than the width of the lower wall thereof to cause the forward portion of the filter to tilt downwardly relative to the plane of the face engaging portion and means, when said filter member is extended, for retaining said filter member in said extended position and for permitting said filter member to be collapsed.

WILLIAM J. JOYCE. 

